Tree Frog Forestry News

Daily Archives: September 22, 2014

Business & Politics

Tla’amin First Nation and City of Powell River complete transaction to purchase Catalyst Paper’s interest in the PRSC Limited Partnership

Canada Newswire press release

September 19, 2014

Category: Business & Politics

Region: Canada, Canada West

POWELL RIVER, BC – The Tla’amin First Nation and City of Powell River have completed the transaction to purchase Catalyst Paper Corporation’s interest in the PRSC Limited Partnership, a unique joint venture that was established by the three parties in 2006 to sell and redevelop lands that were surplus to Catalyst’s operations in the community. Through its wholly owned corporations, Powell River Waterfront Development Corporation (City) and Tees’kwat Land Holdings Ltd (Tla’amin), the parties retired the mortgage being carried by PRSC and acquired Catalyst’s interest in the Limited Partnership for $3 million. The transaction was approved by the courts in 2012 when Catalyst was undergoing financial restructuring while under creditor protection.

…And the current adversarial environmental review process doesn’t deal well with these questions. “The way we are going about making decisions now is driving us apart, not together,” he said. He thinks there is a better way, a collaborative way, and he illustrates it with a counter-intuitive example — B.C.’s notorious War In The Woods of the 1990s. “It was a similar situation,” he said. “Polarized views. Disagreements over facts. Fundamental value differences.” But after a period of constructive dialogue among diametrically opposed interest groups, “people who’d barely speak to each other” worked out a solution that, although not perfect, was far better than any alternatives that seemed possible when the confrontation was at its peak.

Ontario should blow its horn

Wood Business

September 18, 2014

Category: Business & Politics

Region: Canada East, Canada

Ontario wood industry experts met last night in Burlington for a social evening of chatting and problem solving over drinks and appetisers. The biggest problem on the table was the need to build a bigger tribe of forestry professionals. Yuill McGregor, from North on Sixty and a member of the Ontario Wood Products Association recently returned from BC Wood’s Global Buyers Mission where he was blown away by the popular event. He wanted to know why Ontario doesn’t have a similar event, even on a smaller scale. “The Ontario Wood Export Association, we’re got something like 35 members but BC Wood’s got maybe only 100 members,” said McGregor. “So it’s not a big gulf.”

Fire causes temporary shutdown of two mills

Pulp and Paper News

September 22, 2014

Category: Business & Politics

Region: Canada East, Canada

Cascades announces the temporary shutdown of the Greenpac and Norampac Niagara Falls containerboard mills following a fire that occurred on Saturday September 20, 2014, in the old corrugated containers (OCC) stock piles located outside of the mills. Both mills were quickly evacuated with no injuries to personnel. The causes of the fire are currently unknown, but local authorities are investigating to determine the potential causes of this event. The fire is now under control.

Northern Pulp spokesman David MacKenzie steps down

CBC News

September 21, 2014

Category: Business & Politics

Region: Canada East, Canada

The man who spoke on behalf of problem-plagued Northern Pulp in Pictou County, Nova Scotia has left his job. David MacKenzie says he leaves the company with a heavy heart and says he believes the plant is on its way to fixing its emissions problems. Complaints about the stinking smog generated by the mill have been gaining a lot of attention this year as people in the community, health care workers, the Lung Association and activists — including Erin Brockovich — increasingly voiced concerns over the potential health impacts caused by the mill’s pollution.

Coworkers find man dead at Weyerhaeuser

The Daily News

September 21, 2014

Category: Business & Politics

Region: United States, US West

A 50-year-old Vancouver man died Saturday afternoon while working on an electrical project at Weyerhaeuser, Longview police said Sunday. Scott Trapp, a JH Kelly contractor, was installing electrical wiring at the facility when a coworker noticed “he was down” about 5 p.m., Longview Sgt. Troy Brightbill said. Onsite employees performed CPR and tried to revive Trapp with an automated external defibrillator but were unsuccessful, Brightbill said. Longview firefighters also were unable to revive Trapp, who was declared dead at the scene, Brightbill said. The Cowlitz County Coroner’s Office is investigating the cause of death. END OF STORY

Weed Fire Aftermath: Mill a Key to Town’s Recovery

Associated Press

September 20, 2014

Category: Business & Politics

Region: United States, US West

WEED, Siskiyou County — Besides destroying or damaging scores of homes and other structures, a fast-moving wildfire struck a blow at the economic vitals of this struggling Northern California timber town, knocking its last wood products mill offline for an undetermined amount of time. …The mill shutdown, however temporary, is one more blow to Weed, which has never recovered from the logging cutbacks of the 1990s to protect the threatened northern spotted owl and salmon that put tens of thousands of people in Siskiyou County out of work, said Siskiyou County Supervisor Michael Kobseff.

Tasmania’s Opposition Leader Bryan Green has accused two Liberal MPs of trying to rewrite history during a heated parliamentary inquiry into the sale of the Triabunna mill. The parliamentary committee was commissioned to investigate the sale of the woodchip mill to environmentalists Graeme Wood and Jan Cameron in 2011. The pair initially said they hoped to reopen it but later unveiled plans for a tourism development. Liberal committee members Guy Barnett and Roger Jeansch grilled Mr Green, the former resources minister, about what he knew of the mill sale before it occurred.

VicForests records $3.4m profit as Eden mill ‘challenge’ looms

ABC News, Australia

September 19, 2014

Category: Business & Politics

Region: International

The Victorian Government logging company VicForests is boasting a $3.4 million profit for the last financial year. The result was posted in the VicForests’ annual report tabled in Parliament this year. About $2 million of that was the result of a re-evaluation of its forestry assets. A spokesman for VicForests, Nathan Trushell, says next year’s performance will be affected by the Eden Woodchip Mill’s decision to stop taking timber from East Gippsland.

Softwood lumber exports to Japan significantly lower

IHB

September 22, 2014

Category: Business & Politics

Region: International

The latest trade statistics published by Eurostat show a significant decline in softwood lumber exports to Japan for the first half of the year. With a decrease of about EUR 140 million, the value of goods declared was -29% less than in the same period of the previous year. Total goods exported to Japan (under HS 440710) were worth EUR 480 million. The most significant decline was recorded in May with around 40% less exported value.

Wood, Paper & Green Building

Woodworking conference a chance to meet high-end furniture creators

Ottawa Citizen

September 18, 2014

Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building

Region: Canada East, Canada

Buy a piece of furniture at most stores and what do you know about it? Other than the price and maybe the country of origin, usually not much. Pick out something made by Jacques Breau — say, his wall-hung, maple and zebrano liquor cabinet — and the Ottawa fine woodworker can tell you everything about it including the sources of inspiration: shapes created by Scotland-based sculptor Andy Goldsworthy coupled with a child’s wall-hung, mid-20th-century desk he saw at an exhibit in Paris, France. Breau, who operates End Grain Woodworks, is one of roughly a dozen woodworkers exhibiting during Woodworks ’14 at the Perth campus of Algonquin College Sept. 26 to 28.

Forestry

National Forest Week, Insert Campbell River Mirror

B.C. recognizes woodlot innovation and excellence

BC Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations

BC Government

September 20, 2014

Category: Forestry

Region: Canada, Canada West

GOLDEN – Four British Columbians, who run small, community-based forestry operations, have been recognized by Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Steve Thomson with awards for innovation and excellence in woodlot management. The award recipients are:

Clayton Foster of Vanderhoof, who received the $2,500 award for the North region, in recognition of his commitment to stewardship and innovative marketing practices.

Fred and Jane Marshall of Boundary, who received the $2,500 award for the South region, for their leadership in the field and their long-time advocacy of the woodlot licensing program.

Wolfram Wollenheit and Sibylle Walkemeyer of Campbell River, who received the $2,500 award for the Coast region, along with a separate $2,500 provincial award in recognition of their commitment to long-term forest stewardship.

National Forestry Week Underway

250 News

September 22, 2014

Category: Forestry

Region: Canada, Canada West

Prince George, B.C.- This is National Forestry Week in Canada, and the theme is, Sunrise in the Forest. That theme is a reflection of the state of the forestry industry, one which the Council of Forest Industries says is in good shape. ( see previous story) Minister of Forests, Steve Thomson says the theme speaks to the “resiliency of the forest sector.” Gone are the dark days of 2008, 2009 when the US housing market collapsed and BC Forest companies had few options for the sale of their product. Since those days, markets have diversified, with BC growing its share of exports to Asia. That growth continues with trade missions to India and Korea.

GUELPH— In celebration of National Forest Week and in response to the emerald ash borer, the City of Guelph will be planting trees in the Clairfield West neighbourhood over the next month. National Forest Week runs from Sept. 21 to 27. Its purpose is to encourage a greater public awareness of Canada’s forests. In honour of this week, and as part of the emerald ash borer canopy recovery program, city staff will be planting 366 trees including silver maple, red maple, sugar maple, hackberry, serviceberry, red oak and tulip tree. This planting will continue until the end of October in neighbourhoods and parks where ash dominates the treeline.

Forest fire training increased as standards introduced

CBC News

September 22, 2014

Category: Forestry

Region: Canada East, Canada

More Prince Edward Islanders are getting specialized training in fighting forest fires following the introduction of national standards. Ken Mayhew, an information officer with the provincial Department of Forestry, told CBC News about 35 people are trained to fight wildfires on P.E.I., and about a dozen of them have now met the standard required to help other agencies if called. In order to help fight fires in other provinces firefighters have to pass a national fitness standard and complete a helicopter exit course.

Stopping ‘fibre panic’ and reforming forest policy in Nova Scotia

by Ralph Surette

Rabble.ca

September 22, 2014

Category: Forestry

Region: Canada East, Canada

You probably saw that recent front-page spread of a big clearcut north of St. Margarets Bay, done more or less by stealth, in the “western lands” that the province bought from the closed Bowater pulp mill for nearly $120 million a couple of years ago — on the understanding that, thanks to innumerable studies, hearings, strategies and sworn commitments to sustainability ongoing for decades, forestry will be done differently from now on in Nova Scotia.

Tree Planting Subsidies Help your Health and your Wallet – Get Involved During National Forest Week, September 21-27

Forests Ontario

September 19, 2014

Category: Forestry

Region: Canada East, Canada

TORONTO, ON, -This year, National Forest Week is September 21-27, and Trees Ontario, the forest restoration arm of Forests Ontario, and its partners are encouraging all Canadians to get involved in “green” initiatives and celebrate the benefits of forests. As a landowner, you may be eligible to participate in a tree planting incentive program delivered by Trees Ontario in partnership with the government of Ontario. To date, over 4,000 landowners across the province have made the choice to plant trees on their properties and have contributed to creating strong, healthy forests.

Destructive California wildfire burning in two national forests

Bangor Daily News

September 21, 2014

Category: Forestry

Region: United States, US West

A wildfire in California’s rugged Sierra Nevada mountains has damaged and destroyed some homes in a small community, as thousands of residents remain evacuated and gusty winds on Saturday are expected to fan the flames, officials said. Officials did not yet have a complete damage assessment from the charred community of White Meadows. On Friday, they reported the week-old King Fire had for the first time torched homes. “The structures that did burn, many of them were completely consumed as the trees around them burned top to bottom. In many places, they were just black sticks,” said Mike McMillan, a spokesman for the team fighting the blaze.

Teams assess damage as California wildfire burns

The Missoulian

September 20, 2014

Category: Forestry

Region: United States, US West

POLLOCK PINES, Calif. — Assessment teams sought Saturday to find out just how many structures have been damaged or destroyed by a massive wildfire that threatens thousands of homes in Northern California. While officials confirmed that several structures have been lost in what is being called the King Fire, dangerous conditions have prevented them from determining an exact number or how many of them were homes, fire spokesman Mike McMillian said. The blaze began one week ago, and a man accused of starting the blaze is being held on $10 million bail.

Guest opinion: Time to push made-in-Montana public land legislation

By JOHN WALSH U.S. Senator

Billings Gazette

September 21, 2014

Category: Forestry

Region: United States, US West

I recently got to hike with some fellow Montanans 2,000 feet up to Headquarters Pass on the Rocky Mountain Front. From the top, the Bob Marshall Wilderness sprawled before us. That stunning view was a reminder of how important public lands—the places we all own—are to Montana. Politicians in Washington could learn a thing or two from the clear perspective and fresh air of places like Headquarters Pass. It was 50 years ago that Congress had the foresight to designate “The Bob,” the Anaconda Pintler, Cabinet Mountains, Gates of the Mountains, and Selway-Bitterroot as some the nation’s first wilderness areas. Now Congress has an opportunity — and responsibility — to look forward with that vision for the future again.

32 structures destroyed in California wildfire

Associated Press

September 21, 2014

Category: Forestry

Region: United States, US West

SAN FRANCISCO — Light rain and cooler temperatures helped firefighters makes advances Sunday against a huge Northern California wildfire that has destroyed nearly three-dozen structures. According to preliminary figures, 10 homes and 22 outbuildings were lost in the White Meadows area of Pollock Pines, said Capt. Tom Piranio, a state fire spokesman. Assessment teams were headed back in the rugged, steep terrain east of Sacramento to survey more damage, he said. “It has been very challenging to get access to those burn areas because there’s a lot of inaccessible terrain,” Piranio said. “We had to make sure it was safe enough to enter.”

Wildfire Prevention Costs Far Less Than Fires (Op-Ed)

Jeff Peterson is a research associate of the Arizona Rural Policy Institute at Northern Arizona University (NAU)

Live Science

September 18, 2014

Category: Forestry

Region: United States, US West

The economics of wildfires are complex and grow more so as environmental conditions evolve. The average wildfire season has stretched from five months in the 1970s to seven months today, according to the report “Playing With Fire” from the Union of Concerned Scientists. But effective planning has not kept pace. Fire suppression this year has cost the U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Department of the Interior $200 million more than the agencies budgeted. According to the FLAME Act Report — a congressionally mandated assessment of those expenditures — putting out forest fires will cost the federal government $1.6 billion before year-end.

Women Allege Harassment and Abuse on Forest Service Firefighting Crews

Fire Engineering

September 21, 2014

Category: Forestry

Region: United States, US West

Current and former female firefighters of the United States Forest Service have filed a complaint with the Department of Agriculture alleging that they suffered job discrimination, harassment and sexual abuse at the hands of male co-workers and that top agency officials failed to stop it, reports The New York Times. The women said the complaint, the first step in a potential class-action lawsuit, was filed late last month on behalf of hundreds of women who worked in the Forest Service’s Region 5, which encompasses more than 20 million acres in 18 national forests in California. The seven women who are the lead complainants said they faced retaliation when they reported the offenses to superiors.

Oregon lawmakers must agree on logging plan

The Statesman Journal

September 20, 2014

Category: Forestry

Region: United States, US West

Western Oregon could be on the verge of getting loggers back into the woods and rebuilding our forest economy — if congressional politics don’t squash that opportunity. The U.S. House of Representatives passed its version of a forest plan last week, but it’s going nowhere in the Senate. Also last week, a November date was set for a Senate committee to consider the competing plan from Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden. Oregon’s congressional delegation must come together instead of pursuing competing strategies for a common goal: increasing logging on parts of the O&C lands in Western Oregon while setting aside other parcels for conservation.

Scoggins Creek Fire: In the field with firefighters, looking for the source

The Oregonian

September 21, 2014

Category: Forestry

Region: United States, US West

“It’s one way in, one way out,” Mitch Taylor says Sunday morning. There are seven of us in the van rumbling up Southwest Scoggins Valley Road, heading for a look at the fire that’s ravaged over 300 acres of Washington County: two public information officers, a TV film crew, Oregonian photographer Beth Nakamura and me, all wearing Forest Service-required personal protective equipment. The rest of the van’s wearing 8″ boots, helmets, and green and yellow fire-resistant Nomex outfits: somehow I’m the odd man out in a blue jumpsuit.

John Maclean Talks Wildfires With Timber Titans (with video)

ABC Fox Montana

September 18, 2014

Category: Forestry

Region: United States, US West

MISSOULA – Montana’s timber titans talk about how they can affect fire season. Thursday night, the Wood Products Association held its forty-second annual convention. Author and son of Norman Maclean, John Maclean, gave the keynote address. A lot of the focus was on the before and after effects of catastrophic wildfires. Public land use has made the news a lot lately. One line of thought in favor of more access to federal acres is getting at fire prevention. Less trees mean less fuel. “Why aren’t we using tools such as fire and logging to try to thin or age the forest correctly to make these events less disastrous?” asked Maclean.

Georgia State Forester Honored by American Forest Foundation

National Association of State Foresters

September 21, 2014

Category: Forestry

Region: US East, United States

Georgia State Forester Robert Farris and the Georgia Forestry Commission are the 2014 recipients of the American Forest Foundation’s Sustained Excellence Award. The award is presented to a state forestry agency partner who has been a strong advocate and supporter of sustainably managed family forests and AFF programs, including The American Tree Farm System and Project Learning Tree. Farris, director of the Georgia Forestry Commission, has been a vital ally for Georgia’s forests for almost 30 years and works to oversee the Commission’s leadership, service and education on Georgia’s forest resources.

Can Trickery Save the Country’s Ash Trees?

ABC News

September 21, 2014

Category: Forestry

Region: US East, United States

A tiny foreign beetle that has devastated ash trees in forests, urban parks and suburban lawns across North America since arriving here from Asia less than two decades ago will soon face an artificial beetle that will give males more than they wanted when attempting to mate with females. The small decoy is the same size and color as the real thing, only about a third of an inch long, but as soon as the male lands on its back it will zap him with a 4,000-volt charge to either stun him or kill him.

Environmentalists sue over threat to owls

The Sydney Morning Herald

September 22, 2014

Category: Forestry

Region: International

Environmentalists are suing the state government for failing to look after three threatened species of owl found in key logging areas of Gippsland. Green group Environment East Gippsland launched the legal action in the Supreme Court on Monday, alleging the Department of Environment and Primary Industries and VicForests had failed to set aside areas in the Gippsland Forest to protect the powerful, sooty and masked owls. Environment East Gippsland co-ordinator Jill Redwood said the Goongerah-Deddick fires in January and February this year burnt 170,000 hectares of forest.

Architects hope to build £790k multi-storey habitats above and below water in cities

Mail Online

September 21, 2014

Category: Forestry

Region: International

With green spaces being replaced by building sites and large-scale developments around the world, architects are constantly looking for ways to replace them. One such concept, devised by a team Dutch-based architects, uses towering structures built with layers of green space in which flora and fauna could live. Called the Sea Tree, the structures would have space for birds and animals to live above ground, and would be bedded under the sea for fish and coral to inhabit.

Lismore to host forestry experts

Queensland Country LIfe

September 21, 2014

Category: Forestry

Region: International

SOME of the world’s finest minds in forestry science, forest management and industry development will assemble in Lismore in October to share their collected wisdom and experience at the biennial Australian Forest Growers Conference. Conference convenor Mark Wright said the conference program now boasts more than 40 presentations from Australia’s top forest research scientists, industry professionals and hands-on practitioners. …“The theme of the Conference is ‘Trees – the future crop for changing climates’, and Dr Pinkard’s presentation will address climate change impacts and adaption for farm foresters,” Mr Wright said.

Carbon, Climate & Bioenergy

To Save the Planet, Don’t Plant Trees

New York Times

September 19, 2014

Category: Carbon, Climate & Bioenergy

Region: United States

Deforestation accounts for about 20 percent of global emissions of carbon dioxide. The assumption is that planting trees and avoiding further deforestation provides a convenient carbon capture and storage facility on the land. That is the conventional wisdom. But the conventional wisdom is wrong. In reality, the cycling of carbon, energy and water between the land and the atmosphere is much more complex. Considering all the interactions, large-scale increases in forest cover can actually make global warming worse. Of course, this is counterintuitive. We all learn in school how trees effortlessly perform the marvel of photosynthesis: They take up carbon dioxide from the air and make oxygen.

Nebraska hopes grants stoke use of wood as fuel

Omaha World Herald

September 21, 2014

Category: Carbon, Climate & Bioenergy

Region: US East, United States

The Nebraska Forest Service says it is offering up to $200,000 to assist business, charities and governments with converting their buildings to heating systems capable of burning wood. “The grants will help cover the upfront costs of installing wood-fueled energy systems,” said Adam Smith, who heads the forest products utilization effort at the forest service. “Historically there has been a lack of capital assistance for the development and installation of these energy systems.” Using what Smith calls abundant supplies of wood waste can save up to 50 percent on utility costs, he said.

Drax renewable energy move ‘could harm forests’

BBC News

September 22, 2014

Category: Carbon, Climate & Bioenergy

Region: International

The UK’s biggest coal power station has been accused of causing environmental damage as it moves to produce electricity from “renewable” resources. Drax in North Yorkshire is converting half of its boilers to burn wood. Environmentalists are worried the huge demand for wood pellets from Drax and other UK power stations will damage forests in the US. Drax chief executive Dorothy Thompson said pellets would come from areas that are “not protected”. “When you burn trees, the CO2 goes straight out the chimney and into the atmosphere,” said Harry Huyton, head of climate change at the RSPB.

General

OSC reaches settlement deal with Sino-Forest auditors Ernst & Young

Canadian Press

September 19, 2014

Category: Uncategorised

TORONTO – The Ontario Securities Commission says it has negotiated a settlement with accounting firm Ernst & Young regarding allegations of shoddy work involving audits of Sino-Forest and another firm. The OSC issued a notice of hearing to be held Sept. 30 to consider whether it is in the public interest to approve the settlement, which was negotiated by commission staff. It says the settlement agreement, involving audits on Sino-Forest and Zungui Haixi Corp., was entered into on a no contest basis.